*Allows upto 20 pc FDI in IPO bound LIC
NEW DELHI, Feb 26:
The Union Cabinet was learnt to have been briefed on Saturday about the situation in Ukraine and efforts being taken to evacuate Indian nationals from the war-hit country.
The Cabinet Committee on Security is also learnt to have met on Saturday amid the crisis in Ukraine after it was attacked by Russia.
Government sources said members of the Union Cabinet were briefed on the evolving situation in Ukraine and round-the-clock efforts being made by the government to bring back Indians from that country.
The Government is bringing back Indians from Ukraine by operating special flights from its neighbouring countries, including Romania and Hungary.
Indians are being ferried to border areas of Ukraine before being flown to India from the bordering country concerned since the Ukrainian airspace is closed for civilian flights.
An Air India flight carrying Indians from Ukraine is enroute from Romania to Mumbai. Many more evacuation flights are expected to be operated in the coming days.
Meanwhile, the Government on Saturday permitted up to 20 per cent foreign direct investment (FDI) under automatic route in IPO-bound LIC with an aim to facilitate disinvestment of the country’s largest insurer, sources said.
The decision in this regard was taken by the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The Government has approved listing of shares of LIC on the stock market through an IPO by part-sale of its stake in the insurer and raising fresh equity capital.
Foreign investors may be desirous of participating in the mega IPO. However, the existing FDI policy did not prescribe any specific provision for foreign investment in LIC, which is a statutory corporation established under the LIC Act, 1956.
Since as per the present FDI policy, the foreign inflows ceiling for public sector banks is 20 per cent under government approval route, it has been decided to allow foreign investment of up to 20 per cent for LIC and such other corporate bodies.
Meanwhile, the Union Cabinet approved the nationwide roll-out of the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) with a budget of Rs 1,600 crore for five years, according to an official statement.
The National Health Authority (NHA) will be the implementing agency of the central sector scheme.
Under the ABDM, citizens will be able to create their Ayushman Bharat Health Account numbers, to which their digital health records can be linked, the statement said.
This will enable creation of longitudinal health records for individuals and improve clinical decision making by healthcare providers, it stated.
It will improve equitable access to quality healthcare by encouraging use of technologies such as telemedicine and enabling national portability of health services.
Based on the foundations laid down in the form of Jan Dhan, Aadhaar and Mobile (JAM) trinity and other digital initiatives of the government, Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) is creating a seamless online platform through the provision of a wide-range of data, information and infrastructure services, duly leveraging open, interoperable, standards-based digital systems while ensuring the security, confidentiality and privacy of health-related personal information.
The pilot of ABDM was completed in the six Union Territories of Ladakh, Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Puducherry, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep with successful demonstration of technology platform developed by the NHA, the statement said.
During the pilot, digital sandbox was created in which more than 774 partner solutions are undergoing integration. As on February 24 this year, 17,33,69,087 Ayushman Bharat Health Accounts have been created and 10,114 doctors and 17,319 health facilities have been registered in ABDM.
The Government approved offering of dry-fuel by coal companies, including state-owned CIL, through a common e-auction window instead of sector specific auctions.
The approval was given during a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
In a statement, the coal ministry said CCEA has approved “offering of all the non-linkage coal by coal companies through one e-auction window of CIL (CIL)/Singareni Collieries Company Ltd (SCCL).”
Due to the move, market distortions would be removed and single rate for all the consumers will evolve in the e-auction market. It will increase operational efficiencies and lead to an increase in domestic coal demand.
Besides, the discretion presently vested in coal companies for allocating coal to different end use sectors will be eliminated. Further, the coal companies will be able to establish coal gasification plants by availing coal from their own mines.
It shall help in developing clean coal technology in the country, it added.
This e-auction will cater to all the sectors, namely power sector and non regulated sector (NRS), including traders. Coal would be offered through this auction in place of the present system of sector specific auctions. (PTI)
Follow our WhatsApp channel